La danse - The Paris Opera Ballet

After exploring the American Ballet Theatre (, 1995) and the Comédie Française (, 1996) in the mid-1990s, Frederick Wiseman now offers us a portrait of the renowned Paris Opera Ballet in . From the subterranean depths all the way up to the roof, he records every layer of the stately opera building. We meet everyone from the cleaning crew to the director, who reigns over her constantly rehearsing dancers like an enlightened despot and refers to them as "half nun, half boxer." In addition to a production of , her agenda also includes the pensionable age of 40 for dancers and the sale of a gala trip package starting at $5,000 per person. Wiseman places the emphasis on the stars in training, the , and the, from rehearsal room to the stage. He accomplishes this in his usual observational style with a handheld camera, and without any added music or comment. What we do get are the silent, recurring images of the abandoned corridors and stairwells that connect the ballet halls and the offices, where the sunlight reflects on the floors.